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Equal Partners in Faith comments on
Falwell's condemnation of Islam |
| Equal Partners in Faith condemns
Falwell's statement that "Mohammad was a terrorist."
Religious Right Leader Calls Muslim Prophet "a
Terrorist"
[Issued 10-6-02, posted here 10-9-02]
"The man who blamed the terrorist attacks on civil libertarians,
pro-choice Americans and gays is now on a verbal crusade against
Muslims," said Dr. Sylvia Rhue, director of Equal Partners in
Faith. "It seems that hatred, wrapped in religion, spews out of his
mouth anytime he finds a group with which he disagrees."
In an interview broadcast Sunday night on CBS's
"60 Minutes," Rev. Jerry Falwell said, "I think Muhammad
was a terrorist." When questioned further about this, Falwell
denounced the founder of Islam as "a violent man, a man of
war." In other interviews after these remarks were made public, the
founder of the Moral Majority affirmed this view as his "honest
opinion."
Falwell is not the only Religious Right leader to say
negative things about Islam. Pat Robertson recently called the prophet
Muhammad "a wide-eyed fanatic" and "a killer," and
denounced Islam as "a monumental scam." Franklin Graham, son
of the well-respected evangelist Billy Graham, claimed that Islam is
"a very evil and wicked religion." And Rev. Jerry Vines, past
president of the Southern Baptist Convention, told an audience of
several thousand listeners that the founder of Islam was "a
demon-possessed pedophile."
"Jerry Falwell is just one of many Religious
Right leaders currently saying such ridiculous and hurtful things about
Islam," said Rev. Ken Brooker Langston, Co-Chair of Equal Partners
in Faith. "Unfortunately, demonizing others is stock and trade for
too many religious leaders who claim to be preaching the love of
God."
In response to the Islamophobic remarks by Falwell and
other Religious Right leaders, Muslim organizations have asked political
leaders to boycott the upcoming Road to Victory Conference, which will
be held in Washington, DC, on October 11 - 12. According to an action
alert by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, elected officials
are being asked "to repudiate anti-Muslim bigotry by canceling
their appearance at any events, like the one described above, that offer
praise for those who attack Islam and Muslims."
"We stand with the Muslim community in
repudiating these attacks on their religion by the leaders of the
Religious Right," said Dr. Rhue. "We also join with our Muslim
brothers and sisters in urging political leaders to distance themselves
from the bigots who have made these hurtful remarks."
###
EQUAL PARTNERS in FAITH is a multi-racial national
network of religious leaders and people of faith committed to equality
and diversity. Our diverse faith traditions and shared religious
values lead us to affirm and defend the equality of all people,
regardless of religion, race, ability, gender, sexual orientation or
gender identity. As people of faith, we actively oppose the
manipulation of religion to promote inequality and exclusion.
Join us and help us promote a more inclusive vision
of religion and society: www.us.net/epf/Support.html
Equal Partners in Faith
5 Thomas Circle
Washington DC 20005
877-501-4194 telephone
202-797-0111 fax
E-mail: EPFinfo@aol.com |
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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